Photo: Landmark Entertainment Group.
In November 1996, Apple announced it would open a chain of cafés. Videoconferencing and on-demand movies and music were among the touted attractions, but its the retro design vibe that seems strangest now. The plans ground to a halt by December, 1997.
The Apple Store that never was [GUIFX via Cult of Mac]
Totally retro in that 1996 way. It looks like a red robin or something.
Hmmmm, that is a spitting image of the first floor at the Sony Metreon in downtown SF. Seriously.
Aren’t Apple “Genius Bars” somewhat similar, if not quite so elaborate?
The Store OF THE FUTURE!!!!
ID 4?
As in a sequel to Independence Day?
As in THREE sequels to Independence day?
wow.
I do like the globe-in-apple-logo design, it smacks of manifest destiny and super-ego.
Yes, it does look almost exactly like San Francisco’s Metreon! (Sony’s foray into ‘experience building environments’ for those that don’t know.)
And you see how well that went. Most of it vacant for years, the Sony Style and Playstation stores closing, selling the building to the local mall chain, and soon to get that entire look removed as it gets renovated into a “proper” mall.
On the other hand the current Apple stores are weirdly sterile, I always feel like I should follow clean room procedures when I’m in there. Which I suppose is the point. Give me Captain Nemo over a lab assistant any day. (And I’m not even into steampunk.)
@5: ID4 is what they called it back when the movie was first coming out. because, um, it came out on july 4th.
don’t ask me.
It looks kinda like the Cafe 80s in BTTF2!
“Beans, chicken, b-b-beef or p..p..pork.”